Push-button switch



July 1 1924.

1,499,370 H. D. JAMES PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Nov. 20, 1920 WITNESSESZ INVENTOR 5%. HenryQJames.

ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1924.

HENRY D. JAMES, `on Enenwoon PARK,

rENNsYLvANrA, ,'AssIGNon. ToWEsrING-L HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A.CORPORYATION Oli'y PENNSYL- VAN IA.

Application f1ed'November To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY Drill/urns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, inthe county vof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvvented a new and usefulglfmprovement in Push-Button Switches, of which the-following is a specification. y

My invention relates to push-button switches and particularly to such control switches as are employed lto intermittently open and close an electric circuit orto control relays or like apparatus through an auX- iliary circuit. i n l Y The object .of Amy invention isto provide a switch ofthe character described which possesses the advantages'of simplicity',efli ciency of operation and cheapness.

The preferred formof my invention vis shown in -the accompanying drawing, whereinf Figure 1 is a side view, partially inelevation and partially in section, of la switch embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, looking from the left of Fig. 1.

The switch comprises a base 4; to rwhich are secured contact supports, 6 and 7 that are provided with terminals 8, 9 and 10, yrespectively. A movable Contact `member or finger 11, which is made ofsteel or some other flexible conducting material, is also secured to the base and has one end thereof fastened to the support 5.'

The linger 11 has a contact tip 12of conducting material, such as copper, formed on its free end, which is adapted t'o vbe moved into and out of engagement with stationary contact members 13 and 14 that are carried by supports 6 and 7, respectively, to open and close circuits through the terminal members 8 and 9 and terminal members 8 and 10, respectively.

A cover 16 has a lining 17 of lish paper or other non-conducting material and an outer portion stamped out of sheety metal. The cover is provided with a depending tubular portion 18 through which a push button 19 extends, and which serves as a guide to maintain the push button in proper alinement.

The push button 19 is provided with a pair of projections 20 having alined holes PUSH-nutricion SWITCH. j'

20,1920. serialim .f`4`25,45s.k y f r therein toreceivea pin 21. The contact/finger 11 extends throughy the space between the projectionsl 2O and above the pin-21 and the flatter prevents accidental l'removal ofthe i pushbuttonlfrom the contact finger.

The push button 19 has afrecess 22 for the reception of acoil spring`-23-whichis compressed betweenthe top ysurface of vthe v j contact linger 11 and the upper wall ofthe recess. f

Q Thecontact linger, beingjof resilient material, normally occupies the po'sition'shown in Fig.`1 to kclose a circuitl through the terminals 8'and` 10. When the button is com-y pressed, that circuitis broken and 'another circuit is closed, throughjthe 1 terminals 8 and .9. 'i

' The yielding ,connection betweenthe push i' ibutton 19 andthe ,contact linger l-1`1 lpermits krtheshoulder portion of theybutton'to be nor`l inner end of the depending portion 18 ofthe cover 16, thus excluding dirt and moisture from the interior of the switch, and the lostf motion' connection between thepush button and the contact finger also permits'the button to slide freely in the portion 18. The contact linger moves through an are, while ythe lost-motion connection permits the push button to move `in a straight line.

it mally maintained in engagement with the f `While I have shown my construction as Y applied to aswitch of the double-pole type,

it could, if desired, be employed in singley pole constructions, as, for instance, to control switches vvhereby the circuit is normally kept closed or in switches employed for intermittentlyclosing a circuit.

Various modications may be made in the y construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In anelectric switch, a stationary contact member, amovable contact member norymally'yi'eldingly held in engagement with the stationary rContact member, a push but` ton for actuating the movable contact mem'- ber, a guide for the push button, and a yielding connection between the push button and the movable Contact member'for permitting the push buttonk to be guided through a path of travel independent of the direction of` movement imparted to the movable contact. member. Y

2. In combination, in an electric switch, a

base, a cover provided with an opening therein, a contact member movable through an arcuate path, a vertically movable push button loosely mounted on the movable con- Atact member, a spring interposed between the push button and the movable contact member, and a guide member for the push button whereby such button isV maintained against horizontal movement. Y Y Y y 3. In an electric switch, the combination .with a stationary contact'member, of a spring contact linger having a contact member movable inl an arc of a circle and normally in engagement with said stationary contact member and a push button for actuating the movable contact linger and resilientlyconnected thereto, whereby said contact finger may simultaneously maintain the engagement of said contact members and retain the push button in its inoperative position. Y

4. The combination with an electric ,switch provided with a stationary contact element and a contact member movable through an arc of a circle that is biased into engagement with said element, of a cover therefor provided with a combined guide and seating member, a push button extending through the guide member and provided with a seat-engaging portion, and means constituting a yielding lost-motion connection between said push button and said contact member for normally yieldingly maintaining the push buttonV against itsr seat.

The combination with an electric switch provided with a stationary Vcontact element and a contact member movable through an arc of a circle into and out of engagement with Vsaid element, of a cover ytherefor provided with a combined guide permitting, also, the simultaneous engagement of the contact element `by the contact member and the actuation of the push button to its seat-engaging.position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of November, 1920. Y

HENRY D. JAMES. 

